Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder

This post also appeared on www.capecodonline.com/blogs in the opinion section of the Cape Cod Times, a division of Ottaway Newspapers, Inc.

I left Will to go to work at 3 p.m. on Saturday. After work I left for New Jersey which means I didn’t get back to the Cape until 2 a.m. on Monday. Granted, this is not a huge amount of time to be away from home. I understand this. I know there are some military parents out there who go months — and even years — without seeing their children. So believe me, I’m not trying to whine about it but…

I missed him. I missed him a lot.

Don’t get me wrong, I loved going to the Meadowlands to watch my Patriots beat the holy hell out of the pitiful New York Jets (even without Tom Brady!), but I couldn’t take my mind off Will. I showed everyone we were with pictures of him. I talked about him non-stop. I wished he was there with me. When I finally got back home it was the middle of the night and of course he was sleeping. But that didn’t stop me from going straight into the nursery, scooping him up and spending the next 10 minutes just holding him close.

I love the way he rubs his eyes when he’s tired or when his fitful slumber has been disturbed. I love it when he buries his little face in my chest and falls right back to sleep. I love the way he smells (dirty diaper not included). Granted, I’ve always loved these things about him but when I’m away from him — even for a day and a half — everything is just heightened that much more. That’s why I rush home from work when I’m running late, just to get even 15 minutes with him before he goes to bed. And selfishly, I try to keep him awake just so I can play with him and kiss his head a few more times. And when I sprint up the walk (like I did yesterday) only to find out he’s already asleep, I get really bummed.

I know this post is all mushy and you’re probably wondering what size bra and panties I’m wearing right now, but I can’t help it. The kid is unbelievable. He’s the best thing I’ve ever done in my crappy little life. Every time I see him I want to squeeze him so hard he pops. Not literally, that’d be messy. But you get the idea.

Sorry the posts will be a little infrequent this week, I’m covering a vehicular homicide trial and it’s sucking up most of my time. I’m on a short break right now before they resume testimony this afternoon. But bear with me and keep the comments coming.